Abstract: A mobile recycling validation system including a mobile recycling application operating on a user's mobile device, at least one server remote from the mobile device, where the mobile recycling application may receive image data relating to an image captured with a camera of the mobile device, identify a unique code printed on a recyclable item depicted in the image, determine unique code data relating to the unique code, determine recycling deposit confirmation data, and send the unique code data and the recycling deposit confirmation data to the server. The server may receive the unique code data and the recycling deposit confirmation data, determine if the unique code is valid, determine if the recycling deposit confirmation data indicates that the recyclable item has been deposited in the recycling stream, and send validation data to the mobile recycling application, which may credit an account of the user with an incentive credit.